In this article, we outline the items a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) needs to include in the workplace first aid kit.
We focus on the necessities for standard, workplace, and vehicle first aid kits and make recommendations for additional items that may be useful.
First aid in the workplace
In New Zealand, all workers must be provided with first aid facilities, equipment, and access to first aiders. First aid refers to the immediate and basic care given to an injured or sick person before a doctor, health professional, or emergency services can take over.
Under the Health and Safety at Work Regulations 2016, a PCBU must not impose a levy or charge on a worker for the provision of first aid kits. As the PCBU, there are three main things you need to think about when deciding what first aid equipment and facilities your workplace needs:
- Do you have enough first-aid kits and facilities?
- How many trained first-aiders do you need?
- What type of information do you need to give workers about first aid?
All PCBUs must engage with workers on any health and safety matters that will directly impact them, including first aid. When determining what first aid supplies you need, talk to your workers, get their ideas, and ask them what they think the risks are at work. Based on this, you can identify which first aid equipment and facilities are needed.
First aid kits - what to include
You must provide at least one first aid kit for each workplace, containing basic equipment for cuts, scratches, punctures, grazes, splinters, sprains, strains, minor burns, broken bones, eye injuries, and shock.
What you put in the kit should be based on the particular risks of the work carried out at your workplace. Key examples include lone worker first aid kits, vehicle first aid kits, and standard first aid kits for your main business premises.
Core items:
- Gauze pads and bandages
- Adhesive bandages
- Triangular bandages
- Adhesive tape
- Safety pins
- Wide gauze roller bandage
- Wound cleaning agent
- Wound dressings
- Scissors
- Latex gloves
- Antiseptic towelettes or saline solution
- Tweezers
- CPR or AED Resuscitation equipment
- Eye pads
- First aid guides and instructions
- Pain medication
Optional extras
- Emergency blankets
- CPR or AED Resuscitation equipment
- Directions to request emergency assistance
- Instant ice packs
When you have a first aid plan and process, you must communicate with your workers to ensure everyone knows what is available. They must have clear information about the location of first aid kits, names and locations of first aiders, the location of a first aid room (if there is one), and procedures to follow when they need first aid.
This information should be given when they are first employed, when there is a change in their work, when there is a change in first aiders, and at regular intervals as a reminder.
Primepac first aid kits
At Primepac, we’re here to make your health and safety process as easy as possible with our first aid kit range. By working with a local first aid specialist, we ensured these kits were designed for the New Zealand environment. Benefits of our kits include:
- Custom-built for the NZ environment
- Custom assembly options are available.
- Co-branding is available
- All components certified to the relevant standards
- Cost-effective protection
- You can re-order specific components as needed
- Wide range of options available from lone driver to 50 plus person
Small first aid kits
Our small first aid kits are best suited to one worker, such as lone workers or employees who travel often and require a compact kit. Each kit contains all the essential first aid supplies, including bandages, bandaids, tape, antiseptic wipes, and scissors. Options include:
- Vehicle or Lone Worker First Aid Kit
- Lone Worker Basic First Aid Kit
- Premium Vehicle or Worker First Aid Kit
Medium first aid kits
Our Medium Workplace First Aid Kits are more comprehensive and versatile, containing a selection of premium adhesive tape dressings, wipes, bandages, and protective wear. They’re available in soft pack and hard case options and we also supply a refill option as needed. These kits are designed for workplaces of 1-5 people.
Options include:
Large first aid kits
Our large first aid kits are designed for 1 to 25 people, containing an assortment of dressings, gauze, bandages, medical tape, antiseptic wipes, and more. They are available in either a soft pack or a hard case wall-mounted option.
Jumbo first aid kits
Our Jumbo kits are designed to service up to 50 people – ideal for large workplaces. It comes in a hard metal landscape first aid cabinet and contains a comprehensive supply of dressings, plasters, bandages, medical tape, antiseptic and cleansing equipment, and more.
Emergency burns first aid kit
The Emergency Burns first aid kit contains essential items for cooling and soothing burns. Designed for fast pain relief, the Comprehensive Burns Kit is a must for any workplace environment with extreme heat or exposed flames. The kit includes sterile dressings, bandages, scissors, gloves, a gel burn dressing, and sachets of Burnaid gel, which contains Melaleuca SP Oil.
Vehicle first aid kit and fire extinguisher
To see the full range of first aid kits on our website, click the button below.
